Employment/Skills

Race Equality in Employment (London)

Unemployment and claimant rates are rising, and they are rising faster for Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people. In London, 50% of all Job Seekers Allowance claimants are BAME people.

In the face of the economic crisis, the Coalition is reforming the benefit system and increased take-up of apprenticeships and the Work Programme. Additionally, the Mayor’s Office has stimulated the creation of 20,000 new Apprenticeship places in London. Despite this, the relatively low number of Apprenticeships in London means that the actual number and national proportion of BAME Apprentices remain unacceptably low.

Within this context, BTEG has successfully obtained a two-year grant from the Trust for London to undertake work around the employment prospects of BAME groups in London. Specifically, our project seeks to improve employment opportunities for disadvantaged people by raising awareness of practice to inform policy developments relating to unemployment and economic exclusions in areas of high BAME concentration in London.

We are focusing on 15 London Boroughs to explore some key variables impacting on local communities. The 15 boroughs are Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Key objectives

To provide monthly statistical information on trends and issues to challenge providers and employers in relation to their recruitment and retention of BAME people.

To spotlight issues and concerns in relation to BAME labour conditions and opportunities with BAME organisations and local BAME forums, through seminars and case studies based on deprived neighbourhoods. This will enable them to better engage with the LSP in London and within their local neighbourhoods.

Undertaking research on race and employment in London that helps BAME people to identify solutions, such as self-employment or similar, in relation to closing the employment gap and the lack of opportunities.